Ling-Temco-Vought F-8J Crusader

Last revised January 21, 2000

In the next round of Crusader upgrades, 136 F-8Es were remanufactured
as F-8J. They were equipped with the more powerful J57-P-20A engine,
which delivered an afterburning thrust of 18,000 pounds. Provision
was made for the carrying of two 300-US gallon drop tanks on the
underwing hardpoints in place of the bombs. Another important
difference was that the boundary-layer control wing that had first
been introduced on the French F-8E(FN) was added to the F-8J.

F-8Js were the main fighter Crusaders on station during the last 18
months of the Vietnam war (1971-72), although none ever actually
scored a confirmed MiG kill. By this stage in the war, the F-4
Phantom was the primary MiG-killer, with the Crusader operating
primarily in the reconnaissance or ground attack role.